HMS Pelican (L86)
HMS Pelican in 1944
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Pelican |
| Builder: | Thornycroft, Woolston |
| Laid down: | 7 September 1937 |
| Launched: | 12 September 1938 |
| Commissioned: | 2 March 1939 |
| Identification: | pennant number: L86, later U86, B294 British Pacific Fleet, F86 post war |
| Fate: | Scrapped 1958 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Egret-class sloop |
| Displacement: | 1,200 tons |
| Length: | 276 ft (84 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 19.25 knots (35.65 km/h; 22.15 mph) |
| Complement: | 188 |
| Armament: |
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HMS Pelican (L86) was an Egret class sloop, built for the British Royal Navy. She was active during the Second World War and was a successful anti-submarine warfare vessel, being credited with the destruction of four U-boats.
Pelican was ordered on 19 March 1937 under the 1937 Building programme from JI Thornycroft at Woolston, Hampshire. She was laid down on 7 September 1937, launched 12 September 1938, and completed 2 March 1939. Designed as a general-purpose vessel, and intended for use as a survey ship in the West Indies, Pelican was modified during her build for service as a convoy escort and anti-submarine warfare ship.
After commissioning and working up Pelican was assigned to Fishery Protection, and at the outbreak of the Second World War joined convoy defence duties in the North Sea. In April 1940 Pelican took part in the Norwegian Campaign and was badly damaged in an air raid off Narvik.
After repairs Pelican returned to local escort work but spent much of 1941 under repair following enemy action and accidental damage.
In January 1942 Pelican was assigned to 45 Escort Group escorting OS/SL convoys to and from West Africa. In July 1942 she took part in the destruction of U-136 while escorting convoy OS 33. In October she was part of the escort force for Operation Torch.
After repairs and a refit Pelican was appointed senior officers ship to 1st Support Group, tasked with reinforcing convoys under attack. In May 1943 the group joined the battle around convoy ONS 5, sinking U-438. In June with ONS 10, Pelican sank U-334. In the autumn of 1943 1SG worked on the Gibraltar route, but saw little action.
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